Advice on the Tippmann A-5

[T_e_X]

I've recently taken a liking to paintball and would like to jump in as soon as I can, and I've decided to start with the Tippmann A-5. If players who have used or own one would please tell me about it, like opinions, its performance, is it good for a newbie, will I be able to rely on this for years, and some advice on cheap (but good) face masks... I would greatly appreciate it.

[MHarvey124]

More importantly, tell us what are you expecting from this gun and what type of paintball you are planning on playing?

Are you planning on doing speedball or woodball?

Just kinda tell us how you plan to play and what type.

[T_e_X]

I was looking at Woodsball more, since I'm not relatively close to any official playing areas. We have alot of forest here, and my friends usually get together for CTF and, as they like to call it, "Team Slayer"(Yeah, just like in Halo).

I've read everything I could find on it, I was just hoping I could get a personal account of someone's experience with it in the kind of game mentioned above.

[T_e_X]

As for the gun... well, just a reliable, high quality one. I don't really want a $60 generic one from save-a-lot that'll let me down. I want a reliable gun that has the potential to break in a newbie but be respected when seen in the hands of an experianced player.

[tl+]

sounds like the A-5 is just for you man, But you cant let a paintball gun go. you have to oil it and other things like that... all paintball guns need it though. Just read the manual that comes with the A-5, and follow those directions and that gun will last you till your 3000 years old.


Now masks are the most important piece of equipment you buy. no matter how sweet of a gun, hopper, tank, etc you have. Without a mask you cant play. And without a good mask you cant play either because they will fog up. So whatever mask you decide to get, make sure it is a Thermal mask. If i had the knowledge i do today when i was buying my first mask i would get the JT Spectra thermal mask.

http://www.actionvillage.com/is-bin/INTERS...yAAAAD30kalA_2t (http://www.actionvillage.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/eCS/Store/en/-/USD/DisplayProductInformation-Start;sid=N1G1hXyBYHu1pT4YzTl1LXYnyLwsVtMuRiQ=?Pro ductID=EL%2esFAY7cyAAAAD30kalA_2t)

there is a link for you. its cheap, but it has what you will need, its comfy and thermal.

remember, dont cheap out on a mask or you can hurt yourself or have a bad expirence with fog. the flex 7 is truly the best you will get for your money

[T_e_X]

Thanks a lot everyone, but I have another question: would you ever consider buying from someone on Ebay? I won't get my gun there; I'd rather spend the extra $20 on a gun that's new and doesn't have any wear at all. Also for my other gear- gloves, camo, paintballs... please give me advice on the best at a good price! (BTW try to remember you're not talking to a "he" ;) )Thank you in advance.

[reconstruct]

hey, i have a tippman A-5 with a flatline barrel. The flatline is sort of annoying but it is still awesome ( u have to adjust it forever until it is perfect which took me about an hour). yes this gun is awesome, just get a new barrel.

[T_e_X]

Okay thanks =) . Any other comments that would help?

[Branwood]

both A-5 and 98c are great for upgrading....im pretty new like you , and im planning on keeping this gun forever................................... dreaming***(14 progrssive,DOP Drop Forward, Repsonse)!***

[drunk3n_rabb1t]

i agree with everyone...the A-5 is a great gun...looking to getting one my self... hey tex go to xtremez.come/ paintballonline.com, cheapest prices i've seen and includes GREAT packages for A-5...and 98C...supposedly the largest online carrier of tippman products on the west coast....plus they have alot of other great products...CHEAPEST PRICES i've seen online and in stores...*check out the assualt package...my dream package right there*

[drunk3n_rabb1t]

i mean the tacticle package...includes flatline barrel...a-5 with reactive trigger...T-6 stock *collapsable*...CORE DeadBox Reflex Sight w/Red Dot and a Double Triple Gun Sling...very sexy looking gun

[TippmannShot]

Very Very Very nice guns , Durable , Long Lasting , easy for every terain.

Like recon said , jus get a new barrel , the stock barrel has major suckage

Good starter guns though

A+

[TippmannShot]

How good are the Empire 14-inch Twister barrels for the A-5 or any other barrels

Not a big fan of Flatline barrels : No disrespect :rolleyes:

[T_e_X]

Thanks everybody for all the help and advice, it's very useful.

Drunk3n Rabb1t, I have a question for you: at xtremez.com, the only difference in the two packages are:
Assault
14" Smart Parts Progressive Barrel

Tactical
Reactive Trigger
Tippmann A-5 Flatline Barrel

Both look freakin awesome, but which would you suggest? I think the tactical looks the "sexiest". ;p

[Old Chief]

Yesterday, I got to play in the hot, humid, skeeter infested woods with my newly acquired A5 w/flatline, eGrip, drop forward. My wife used my old 98 long barrel. She got more kills than I did - but that is due to another reason I'll be covering.

I have 3 Tipps. 98 long barrel, 98C with modifiec flatline, and the A5. I like ALL my guns and would not sell any of them.

I've made a number postings here this weekend you will want to read them as they have various details about 98/A5 that you will find very useful!

One item I did find out about the A5 that is worth sharing. DO NOT stuff the hopper FULL of balls - the hopper needs to be left loose or the cycline whell may not turn/feed balls.

The 32 degree drop forward (that came with the gun) is giving me problems. It is messing up the tank O rings and leaking/slicing them up/ or blowing them out. I've examined it and it looks/fells OK but I wonder if the previous user cross threaded it?
I may have to replace it - I also want to add a good expeansion chamber. The drop forward balances the gun when a tank is attached.

Another the A5 uses a lil more gas than the 98. The A5 uses gas to rotate the hopper feed. I got near empty (that I did not know) and the gun was shooting but no balls got cycles. I thought I was dry but when I looked the hopper was half full. I manually fed the gun and I got a single ball per feed no auto balls - within moments the tank burp'ed out since I was in a fire fight - you can guess the rest.

One bad thing about CO2 is you never now when you're almost out until it happens then ALL know your a DEAD man walking as the tank burp is LOUD. Some how the industry needs to make some sort of tank gauge to let you know BEFORE you start a game that you are NEAR dead/low. And I do not want to be required to take the tank off (or strip civers off the tank) to see what my CO2 level is. Yes - yes if I went to Nitrogen the tanks usually have a gauge. But I'm CO2 and MOST are CO2 users susceptable to this problem.

If I can pass on a VERY need issue that you need to fosus upon that is not directly an A5 issue. MASKS - get a good MASK - Don't cheap this item. Why did I get so few kills - I could NOT ID the movement - my mask/glasses continually FOGGED up on me then it condensed to moisture drops inside the mask! I could see movement but NO details. No deatials no shot - until they fired at me - then I let loose.

Only one MASK maker has addressed fogging with a visor fan - but it doesn't work as sold - you must do some serious mask cutting to get a decent air flow, the batteries are almost mission impossible to change, ALSO it is very loud - so loaud that you cannot hear walking noise - and I feared that others could hear me coming.
What is needed is a fan packaged to hang behind your head with two tubes running up to the mask and coming in from both sides going it at the temples to provide a constant good blow of fresh air into the inside mask face. Since I'm an Electronics Test Engineer I'm working on creating this for my masks - this will be a permanent modification to the mask but if I don't do it my paintball days are limited. Oh anti-fogging stuff DOES NOT work - it helps hold off fogging but not for long.

Also dump the STOCK - read my Stock post and you will see why. Waste of $$$.

de da
Old Chief/Sniper

[T_e_X]

Thanks alot, everyone. However I don't think I'll be getting a package like the ones mentioned in drunk3n rabb1t's post (thanks anyways) since I'm new. I'll get broken in first, then I'll think about the optional stuff.

[drunk3n_rabb1t]

>_<...shot down...hahah...all good yah the tatical package im getting...soOoOo seXyYyY...hahah...newaiz...yah i mean since your just starting and all go for something your cool with...but yah...does anyone know what kind of n2 tank i should get for the a-5?...i got the a-5 comp air sys....and the 2ndary pressure regulator...and im getting the PureEnergy 68ci 3K 800psi bottle...is that a good bottle for the a-5? or is there a specific bottle i need to get....im a n2 noob...HELP!!!!

[drunk3n_rabb1t]

oh and the bottle is already preset

[PaintDude44]

I have an A-5 and it's awesome!!! It shoots 15 bps! It's powerful nice looking and it's low maintance!! U can put on an E-Grip or a Responce. I'm gonna put on a Responce and see how it works. U shuld get an A-5 cause it's awesome!!!

[thatman]

I like my A-5 its easy to take part as most all tippmans are and if you want you can really throw some paint with an E-trigger(or with out). I also like my tippman cus they can take a real beating and there are some nice upgrades you can put on your timppman A-5 (starfire bolt,E-grip,HPA..ect) As for mask i whould not skimp you live in side your mask when you play and you want the best now you can ask 100 people whant masks they use and you will get 100 diffrent replys. I use a spetra mask with a thermal lense if that helps any.